Separating tool



March 28, 1944. R. BYERS ,3 5,3

S-EPARATING TOOL Filed Dec. 11, 1941 I 'grwe/wi'm 1 Babel? 5 ers Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE smifiiil Application December 11, 1941, Serial No. 422,590

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a separating tool for nested baskets and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a tool of this kind which can be employed to readily and quickly separate nested baskets such as used in the packaging of fruit.

In packing fruit in baskets it frequently occurs that the empty baskets to be filled are initially nested and frequently considerable time and labor is required to separate such nested baskets and more particularly when one basket has been tightly wedged within another.

The invention has for an object to provide a tool to facilitate the separation of such tightly wedged baskets.

The invention consists in the detail of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved separating tool whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a tool embodying my invention and in an initial position for separating nested baskets;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a second position of the tool after the nested baskets have been separated;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in front end elevation of the tool as herein comprised; and

Figure 5 is a view in bottom plan of the tool as illustrated in Figure 4.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing I denote an elongated member preferably channeled in cross section and of metal and one end portion of this member I isformed to afford a hand grasp 2. The end of the member I remote from the handle 2 is disposed on the bevel 3 of an angle of approximately 45 degrees and extending laterally from the member I at the outer or high point of the beveled end 3 is a fiat lug 4 having its outer end defined by an upstanding and relatively sharp lip 5. The outer end face of the lug 4 is disposed on a curvature to somewhat conform to the periphery of a packing basket B while the outer surface of the lug 4 is upwardly rounded, as at 6, to provide a broad surface to have rolling contact with an edge of a basket rim or the like.

The lug 4 is disposed outwardly from the flat side of the member I, and also extending laterally from the member I and in the same direction as the lug 4 is a second lug I. This lug I is positioned closely adjacent to the inner or low end of the bevel 3 and has its outer end also defined by an outstanding and relatively sharp flange 8 with its outer end face 9 also curved to approximate the curvature of the outer side face of the basket B. The outer portion of the lug I is also outwardly rounded in order to have rolling contact with an edge of a basket rim. As is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing the lugs 4 and I while at opposite sides of the member I are also spaced apart a desired distance lengthwise of the member I so that an effective pry is provided to separate nested baskets and particularly when said baskets are tightly wedged one within the other.

In the use of my improved tool the lugs 4 and .1 are placed between the top rims I I of adjacent nested baskets with the lips 5 and 8 in position to engage between the rims II and the adjacent side walls of the baskets. The rounded faces 6 and 9 will have rolling contact with the opposed edges of the rims I I of the nested baskets as the member I is swung and thereby resulting in a quick separation of the nested baskets.

In referring to the rims II in the foregoing description and also in the claims it is to be understood that such rim is intended to embrace any construction or arrangement providing the necessary contacting shoulders to enable the tool to be effectively employed.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a separating tool constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tool for separating nested containers comprising an elongated lever member having an end edge extending obliquely there across, a lug extending laterally from the member at each longitudinal edge of the member adjacent said end edge, the lugs being spaced apart in the direction of the length of said oblique edge, and the remote faces of the lugs being rounded.

2. A tool as set forth in claim 1, in which the rounded face of each lug is bordered at the end of the lug remote from the lever member by a relatively sharp lip.

3. A tool as set forth in claim 1, in which the end faces of the lugs, remote from the lever, are formed to cooperatively conform substantially to the curvature of the side of a circular container.

4. A tool for separating nested hooked containers comprising a bar having an end face oblique to the length thereof, a lug carried by the bar upon one longitudinal edge adjacent to said end and extending laterally, a second lug carried by the bar upon the opposite longitudinal edge from the first'l'ug and extending laterally in the same direction as the first lug, the lugs rounded.

5. A tool as set forth in claim 4, with means carried by each lug adjacent the end thereof remote from the bar for effecting a connection with an adjacent one of two nested containers to maintain connection of the lugs with the containers.

6. A tool as set forth in claim 4 in which the end faces of the lugs are at an angle to the length of the lugs whereby the two lugs will substantially conform to the side wall curvature of a circular basket. 1

ROBERT BYERS. 

